ALBUM REVIEW: Still Nervous – Bad Nerves

With an extremely well-received debut album, Essex-based band BAD NERVES combined punk and rock ‘n’ roll in an addictive flurry and immediately marked their place in the alternative music scene, and with bands like THE DARKNESS, NOTHING BUT THIEVES and THE HIVES taking them on tour, it’s clear they’ve made an impact. Their second album Still Nervous has been highly anticipated for some time, and after an almost four-year wait and with all the hype surrounding the band, the hope now is that it lives up to the expectations that have been created. After all, when GREEN DAY’s Billie Joe Armstrong labels you “the best band in England right now“, you have to measure up. Part of the reason BAD NERVES are so loved, both by their solid fanbase and the wider world, can definitely be attributed to their distinctive sound. They’ve always been very sure of themselves, blending punk and rock and grunge to create something pretty unique to them, and after solidifying this on their debut, it will be interesting to see where this takes them on their second album.

Still Nervous opens with Don’t Stop, a fast-paced track driven by relentless drums and singer Bobby Nerves’ grungy vocals. While from the beginning it has that distinctive BAD NERVES sound, it’s immediately obvious that there’s been a little bit of an evolution, with more intricate guitar parts and cleverly written lyrics. While they don’t usually shy away from more serious topics, the band tend to stay on more light-hearted themes, and Don’t Stop suggests that this may be about to change, but they are always able to keep a positive outlook and a fun sound.

Antidote is a typical BAD NERVES song, feeling as though it was written to be performed live with crowds of people dancing. Bringing in a more electronic sound, they’re definitely subtly experimenting, but the focus is always on groovy guitars and memorable lyrics. USA is a clear highlight, just because it’s so fun and catchy but has a bit more depth if you choose to listen to the lyrics. Nerves’ voice is so cool to listen to because it’s so expressive, and the scream at the end is extremely satisfying. Something that he seems to have really mastered is showing his personality in his vocals, and this is also apparent in Plastic Rebel, which really sets them apart.

While generally this album doesn’t stray too far from their first in many ways, which isn’t always a bad thing since they have their formula on lock, there are moments where they experiment and push themselves. An example of this is found in You’ve Got The Nerve, which could very well act as an anthem for the band, where Nerves mimics a very 50s rock ‘n’ roll style, which isn’t entirely new for him but definitely more emphasised here.

Television has a slightly darker sound, with a heavy bassline, which is reflective of the questioning and bleak outlook in the lyrics. The closing track, The Kids Will Never Have Their Say, is similar, with a punk attitude and an angry, expressive tone. While the album isn’t directly emotional, we see a hint of this in You Should Know By Now, which is distinctly personal and has an undertone of sadness in its upbeat sound, and frustration in the intense guitar solo towards the end.

There are possibly two things a band should achieve with a second album: experimenting enough so people don’t get bored, and staying true enough to themselves that they keep their fanbase, and it’s safe to say that BAD NERVES have done this. With classic rock guitars, catchy songs with well-written lyrics, and the feeling that they are just having fun, Still Nervous is a great sophomore effort.

Rating: 8/10

Still Nervous is out now via Kartel Music Group.

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